Tooth and Claw

Gifts

Since the Cullens had a lot to talk about regarding Charlotte's introduction to their family, Jacob decided to take the pack away to give them some space, despite Seth's reluctance to leave Charlotte.
"So, you think your dad will let you join our family, just like that?" Questioned Edward.
"Yeah. He doesn't like me that much. He'll be cool with it" answered Charlotte.
"But you're his only daughter. I can't see him giving you up without a fight" admitted Carlisle.
"Well you don't know him like I do. Just tell him I'm alive and that you need him to sign some papers allowing you to adopt me, and he'll do it, no questions asked" replied Charlotte.

"Why? Without your mother, you're all he has left, why would he just let you walk out of his life?" Carlisle questioned.
"Because he will. Look, my life hasn't been great since my mothers death. My father doesn't like having me around, so I know he'll jump at the chance to get rid of me for good" insisted Charlotte.
"Even if he does, you still expect the rest of Falks to believe that he felt that he couldn't care for you anymore, so allowed Carlisle and Esme to just take you?" Questioned Rosalie.
"Sure. You can say I've got some rare condition which can explain my pale skin and weird eyes. We can then say that I need lots of medical attention and that my dad couldn't cope with it all. Anyone who looks at my medical file will be able to see that I'm no stranger to hospitals, so it will seem plausable" replied Charlotte.

"What about the people who attacked you? Don't you think they'll be a bit shocked to see you up and walking around? And they'll be even more confused about why you're not going to the police about your attack" said Jasper.
"I don't know who attacked me. So it's not a problem" lied Charlotte.
"Your attack should be your last human memory, so you should be able to see it quite well. If you describe your attackers to us, we might be able to find them"
"I don't want to talk about that night!".
Charlotte closed her eyes and tried to forget the last night of her human life, pushing it from her mind.
When she opened her eyes, her jaw dropped as she found herself standing back in her fathers kitchen.

The strangest thing was that the Cullens were all there as well and they could all see what she was seeing.
Charlotte had no idea what was going on, but a second later her father entered the room brandishing a fist.
She tried to retreat, but she found herself fixed to the spot, unable to move. This was when she realised that she was watching one of her last memories as a human. Which explained why she could only see half of the kitchen, and nothing that would've been behind her head at the time of the inncident.
Charlotte suddenly became aware that everyone else in the room was watching the scene intently.
Not wanting them to know how she really died, Charlotte closed her eyes, and tried to draw the image back into her head.
When she opened her eyes, she found that the Cullens living room had returned to normal.

"What was that?" Questioned Charlotte.
"It seems as though we've discovered your gift" replied Carlisle.
"Gift?" Charlotte quizzed.
"All vampires gain a gift when they enter this life. Some are extreme; Edward can read minds, Alice can see the future, and Jasper can change the mood of anyone he wishes. Some are more subtle; Emmett has his strength, Rosalie has her beauty, Esme has her compassion, and I have my knowledge"
"That's great, but what exactly did I just do?".

"It seems like you projected a memory from your mind, into the real world. We saw the world from your eyes" revealed Carlisle.
"How? How did I do it? I didn't even know that I'd done it, until it was too late" admitted Charlotte.
"No one knows where our gifts come from. And it takes a long time to master and control them" explained Carlisle.
"But Carlisle. I could see that" Bella revealed.
"You could?" Questioned Carlisle curiously.
"Yes. Why didn't my shield block it, like it does when Zafrina shows you guys things with her mind?"
"I'm not sure. Maybe Charlotte's gift is like Renesmee's. She's not showing you anything but the truth, and maybe that breaks through your shield".

"Well I don't want my gift. I don't want to re-live things I've already been through. Besides, Carlisle, I thought you said my human memories would fade over time, and that I could put the past behind me" frowned Charlotte.
"Normally human memories do become distorted over time. But since yours are related to your gift, I think you might retain yours forever. However, I can't know that for sure" admitted Carlisle.
"But that's not fair. I don't want my memories. Isn't there something I can do to get rid of them? Surely you must know someone with a mind wiping gift?"
"No, I can't think of anyone that I know, who could do what you are asking. Memories are what make us, us, and there's no interfering with them"
"Great".

"What was that memory you showed us?" Bella asked curiously.
"Yeah, your dad looked kind of scary" added Emmett.
"I don't want to talk about it" admitted Charlotte.
She wanted to keep her past a secret, but that was when she remembered what Carlisle had said about Edward, and his mind reading ability.
'Edward. If you're in my head. Get out. You're not to tell anyone about anything you might have seen in my mind'.
Edward frowned but nodded his head slightly, revealing that he had got her message.
Charlotte had always felt that her mind was her own private place, where she could think what she wanted. But now she knew that there was a mind reader in the group, she would have to be a lot more careful with her thoughts, particularly when around Edward.